THE ESSENCE OF BHAKTI YOGA What is Bhakti?

THE ESSENCE OF BHAKTI YOGA
What is Bhakti?
The word Bhakti comes from a root word “Bhaja” in
Sanskrit which means to remember, contemplate, worship,
serve, adore, love and sing the glories and greatness of
the creator. Four main components of Bhakti are: chanting
the glory of God, worshiping, service and surrender to
God. Bhakti may be defined as single-minded, constant,
loving remembrance of God as given in the following
verse:
an=ny=c=et==/ s=t=t=] y==e m==] sm=rit= in=ty=x=/ +
t=sy==h] s=ulB=/ p==q=* in=ty=y=ukt=sy= y==eig=n=/ ++è.âå++
I am easily attainable, O Arjuna, by that ever steadfast
yogi who always thinks of Me regularly with faith and
loving devotion and whose mind does not go elsewhere.
(8.14)
an=ny= ic=nt=n= a=Er in=ty= sm=rn= are the keywords in
Bhakti-yoga. Bhakti is also called an=ny= B=ikt=, p=r=
B=ikt=, avy=iB=c==ir[=I B=ikt=. Para Bhakti comes when
intellect surrenders to divine will in the spirit of true or pure
love. Bhakti is selfless loving contemplation of God. The
one who always contemplates God with full faith is
considered to be the best of all yogis as given below:
y==eig=n==m=< aip= s=v=*e{==] m=d<g=t=en==nt=r=tm=n== +
X3=v==n=< B=j=t=e y==e m==] s= m=e y=ukt=t=m==e m=t=/ ++ê.åë++
I consider the yogi-devotee --- who lovingly contemplates Me
with supreme faith, and whose mind is ever absorbed in Me --to be the best of all the yogis. (6.47)
m=yy=< a=v=exy= m=n==e y=e m==] in=ty=y=ukt== Wp==s=t=e +
X3y== p=ry==ep=et==s=< t=e m=e y=ukt=t=m== m=t==/ ++âä.ä++
Lord Krishna said: I consider the best yogis to be those ever
steadfast devotees who worship with supreme faith by fixing
their mind on Me as their personal God. (12.02)
Lord personally takes care of Welfare of His Devotees.
an=ny==x=< ic=nt=y=nt==e m==] y=e j=n==/ p=y=*up==s=t=e +
t=e{==] in=ty==iB=y=ukt==n==] y==eg=Z=em=] v=h=my=< ahm=< ++ï.ää++
I personally take care of both the spiritual and material welfare
of those ever-steadfast devotees who always remember and
worship Me with single-minded contemplation. (9.22)
t=sm==t=< s=v=e*{=uu k:=le{=u m==m=< an=usm=r y=uQy= c= +
m=yy=< aip=*t=m=n==eb=ui3r< m==m=< Av=E{y=sy=< as=]x=y=m=< ++è.ë++
Therefore, always remember Me and do your duty. You
shall certainly attain Me if your mind and intellect are ever
focused on Me. (8.07)
Bhakti is suitable for all
A spiritual discipline should be commensurate with the
faith, interest, and ability of the person. Some may be
disqualified or not ready to receive the knowledge of the
Supreme, but the path of devotion is open to all. No one is
disqualified due to caste, creed, gender, or mental
capacity to receive devotion. Most saints and sages
consider the path of devotion the easiest and the best of
all paths. Bhakti is not only the easiest, but also fastest
way to God as given below:
s=m==eCh] s=v=*B=Ut=e{=u n= m=e 8e{y==eCòst= n= ip=>y=/ +
y=e B=j=ònt= t=u m==] B=kty== m=iy= t=e t=e{=u c==py=< ahm=< ++ï.äï++
The Self is present equally in all beings. There is no one
hateful or dear to Me. But, those who worship Me with love
and devotion are very close to Me, and I am also very
close to them. (9.29)
aip= c=et=< s=udur=c==r=e B=j=t=e m==m=< an=ny=B==k<: +
s==Q=ur< Av= s= m=nt=vy=/ s=my=g=< vy=v=òs=t==e ih s=/ ++ï.àî++
If even the most sinful person resolves to worship Me with
single-minded, loving devotion, such a person must be
regarded as a saint because of making the right
resolution. (9.30)
iZ=p=>] B=v=it= Q=m==*tm== x=xv=c%=ònt=] in=g=c%it= +
k:=Ent=ey= p=>it=j==n=Iih n= m=e B=kt=/ p=>[=xy=it= ++ï.àâ++
Such a person soon becomes righteous and attains
everlasting peace. Be aware, O Arjuna, that My devotee
shall never perish or fall down. (9.31)
m==] ih p==q=* vy=p==iXty= y=eCip= sy=u/ p==p=y==en=y=/ +
òsF=y==e v=Exy==s=< t=q== x=U7=s=< t=eCip= y==ònt= p=r=] g=it=m=< ++ï.àä++
Anybody --- including women, merchants, laborers, and
the evil-minded --- can attain the supreme abode by just
surrendering unto My will with loving devotion, O Arjuna.
(9.32)
ik:} p=un=r< b=>=É[==/ p=u[y== B=kt== r=j={=*y=s=< t=q== +
ain=ty=m=< as=uK=] l=ek:m=< wm=] p=>=py= B=j=sv= m==m=< ++ï.àà++
It should then be very easy for holy priests and devout
royal sages to attain the Supreme Being. Therefore,
having obtained this joyless and transitory human life, one
should always worship Me with loving devotion. (9.33)
m=nm=n== B=v= m=4kt==e m=6=j=I m==] n=m=sku:o +
m==m=< Av=E{y=òs= y=uktv=Ev=m=< a=tm==n=] m=tp=r=y=[=/ ++ï.àå++
Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and
bow down to Me. Thus uniting yourself with Me by setting
Me as the supreme goal and the sole refuge, you shall
certainly come to Me. (9.34)
Difference between Karma-Yoga, Bhakti- Yoga and Jnāna-yoga
y=t=< k:r=ei{= y=d< axn==òs= y=j=< j=uh=ei{= dd=òs= y=t=< +
y=t=< t=p=sy=òs= k:=Ent=ey= t=t=< ku:o{v= m=dp=*[=m=<< ++ï.äë++
O Arjuna, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer
as oblation to the sacred fire, whatever charity you give, whatever
austerity you perform, do all that as an offering unto Me. (9.27)
aBy==s=eCpy=< as=m=q==e*Còs= m=tk:m=*p=rm==e B=v= +
m=dq=*m=< aip= k:m==*ò[= ku:v=*n=< òs=i3m=< av==psy=òs= ++âä.âî++
If you are unable even to do any spiritual discipline, then be intent
on performing your duty for Me. You shall attain perfection just by
working for Me (as an instrument, just to serve and please Me,
without selfish motives). (12.10)
A Bhakta becomes free from the bondage of Karma by m=dp=*[=m=<< , m=tk:m=*p=rm=/
, and m=dq=*m=<. Any one of the above three processes makes a Karma as Akarma.
Bhakta offers (m=dp=*[=m=<<) all work to God before or after performing the work. It is said
that One who does all work as an offering to the Lord --- abandoning selfish attachment to the
results --- remains untouched by Karmic reaction or sin as a lotus leaf never gets wet by water.
(5.10) He considers all work as God’s work (m=tk:m=*p=rm=/) and he works for God
(m=dq=*m=<) as His instrument only.
A karma-yogi also becomes free from the bonds of Karma by
working for the greater good of the society without any selfish
motive. Thus the service to society is called Karma-yoga and the
same service to society when it is considered as a service to God
is called Bhakti. Thus Karma-yoga becomes Bhakti-yoga when it
is done with God consciousness. A Jnāna-yogi considers all
works as works of nature and does not think oneself as the doer.
Both Karma-yogi and Bhakti-yogi get Jnāna
n= ih N=n=en= s=¡x=] p=iv=F=m=< wh iv=6t=e +
t=t=< sv=y=] y==eg=s=]òs=3/ k:=len==tm=in= iv=ndit= ++å.àè++
In truth, there is no purifier in this world like the true knowledge of the Supreme Being. One who
becomes purified by Karma-yoga discovers this knowledge within, naturally, in course of time.
(4.38)
t=e{==] s=t=t=y=ukt==n==] B=j=t==] p=>Iit=p=Uv=*k:m=< +
dd=im= b=ui3y==eg=] t=] y=en= m==m=< Wp=y==ònt= t=e ++âî.âî++
t=e{==m=< Av==n=uk:mp==q=*m=< ahm=< aN=n=j=] t=m=/ +
n==x=y==my=< a=tm=B==v=sq==e N=n=dIp=en= B==sv=t== ++âî.ââ++
I give knowledge and understanding of metaphysical
science --- to those who are ever united with Me and
lovingly worship Me --- by which they come to Me. (10.10)
I, who dwell within their inner psyche as consciousness,
destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining
lamp of transcendental knowledge as an act of
compassion for them. (10.11)
B=kty== tv=< an=ny=y== x=ky= ahm=< Av=]iv=Q==eCj=*un= +
N=t=u] 7{!u] c= t=Tv=en= p=>v=e{!u] c= p=r]t=p= ++ââ.çå++
Through single-minded devotion alone, I can be seen in
this form, can be known in essence, and also can be
reached, O Arjuna. (11.54)
A Jnāna-yogi also gets Bhakti
y==e m==m=< Av=m=< as=]m=U$=e j==n==it= p=uo{==eT=m=m=< +
s= s=v=*iv=d< B=j=it= m==] s=v=*B==v=en= B==rt= ++âç.âï++
The wise, who truly understand Me as the Supreme Being
(Purushottama), know everything and worship Me
wholeheartedly, O Arjuna. (15.19)
b=hUn==] j=nm=n==m=< ant=e N=n=v==n=< m==] p=>p=6t=e +
v==s=udev=/ s=v=*m=< wit= s= m=h=tm== s=udul*B=/ ++ë.âï++
After many births the enlightened one worships Me by
realizing that everything is, indeed, My (or Supreme
Being’s) manifestation. Such a great soul is very rare.
(7.19)
B=kty== m==m=< aiB=j==n==it= y==v==n=< y=x=< c==òsm= t=Tv=t=/ +
t=t==e m==m=< t=Tv=t==e N=tv== iv=x=t=e t=dn=nt=rm=< ++âè.çç++
By devotion one truly understands what and who I am in
essence. Having known Me in essence, one immediately
merges with Me. (18.55)
The Best Sādhanā
Lord Krishna declares that learning and preaching the
transcendental knowledge of the Gita to be the best way
of practicing three main spiritual disciplines --- Bhakti,
Karma and Jnāna --- to reach His supreme Abode as
follows:
y= wm=] p=rm=] g=uÄ] m=4kt=e{v=< aiB=Q==sy=it= +
=ûkt=] m=iy= p=r=] k&:tv== m==m=< Av=E{y=ty=< as=]x=y=/ ++âè.êè++
The one who shall propagate (or help the propagation of) this
supreme secret philosophy (of the Gitā) amongst My devotees,
shall be performing the highest devotional service to Me and
shall certainly (attain the Supreme Abode and) come
to Me. (18.68)
n= c= t=sm==n=< m=n=u{y=e{=u k:ûxc=n=< m=e ip=>y=k&:T=m=/ +
B=iv=t== n= c= m=e t=sm==d< any=/ ip=>y=t=r=e B=uiv= ++âè.êï++
No other person shall do a more pleasing sevā to Me, and no one
on the earth shall be more dear to Me. (18.69)
aQy=e{y=t=e c= y= wm=] Q=my=*] s=]v==dm=< a=v=y==e/ +
N=n=y=Nen= t=en==hm=< w{!/ sy==m=< wit= m=e m=it=/ ++âè.ëî++
Those who shall study our sacred dialogue shall be
performing a holy act of knowledge-sacrifice. This is My
promise. (18.70)
OM TAT SAT